Nicolas Freeling - Telegraph Nicolas Freeling 12:02AM BST 22 Jul 2003 Nicolas Freeling, who died in France on Sunday aged 76, liberated the detective story from page-turning puzzle into a critique of society and an investigation of character. He paved the way for those who, like Ruth Rendell and P D James on this side of the Atlantic, and Elmore Leonard and George V Higgins on the other, sought to enter the fictional mainstream and write good novels which can be re-read once the crime has been cleared up and the detecting done. A self-declared follower of Simenon, who reciprocated the admiration and addressed him as "Cher collègue", Freeling's 13 Piet Van der Valk and 16 Henri Castang books are to his admirers the best of British romans policiers. Yet only one of them is set outside the Continent, and that in Dublin. Freeling lived nearly all his life in Holland and in France. As one critic observed, he is the only British novelist of consequence to have tackled modern Europe - though that judgment unfairly excludes John le Carre, who elevated the spy story in a comparable way.

Nicolas Freeling was born in London on March 3 1927. His background, which he dissected in his last book, a combined memoir and landscape of the Alsace village he lived in for the past 30 years, was shabby genteel. His mother, an ardent Communist turned Catholic, was a cousin of the Anglo-Irish Erskine Childers, who wrote the classic of suspense The Riddle of the Sands, and was executed in the Irish civil war. She left Nicolas's amiable, pottering father, and the boy's childhood and education were peripatetic and strange, being set in Southampton, Brittany and wartime Ireland. After National Service with the RAF from 1947 to 1949, until his early thirties Freeling worked as a sous-chef in the French and British seaside luxury hotels which were trying, usually without success, to re-establish themselves after the war. Years later, he took time off from the police novels to write Kitchen Book, a definitive memoir of this time.

Influenced by, but transcending, the work of the New York author-restaurateur Ludwic Bemelmans, it is a masterpiece of food literature and recently inspired another New York chef, Antony Bourdain, to write his best-selling Kitchen Confidential. Freeling steeped himself in Dickens, Kipling and Conrad in boyhood, and believed that the intense discipline fostered by old-fashioned kitchens equipped him to write. He and his Dutch wife, always known as Renee, had started a family when disaster struck. Working in Amsterdam, he availed himself of a traditional chef's perk and pilfered some meat for his family's use. It was decided to make an example of him and he spent three weeks in a Dutch jail. Here he met an amused and irreverent policeman, the model for Inspector Van der Valk. Though he had written what he thought was a love story, Van der Valk strayed into it and his publisher, Victor Gollancz, decided it was a thriller.

Published in 1962, Love In Amsterdam and subsequent Van der Valk novels were very successful, the intimate and insider's portrait of a great city and a small country were absorbing; and the hero, and his French wife, Arlette, were sufficiently distinctive to stoke fiction readers' appetite for a serial. There were film and television offers; a well-received television series with Barry Foster in the title role was made. There were three Van der Valk television series on ITV in the mid-1970s, and he returned for a further two in 1991-1992. However, disaster struck again when Freeling decided, in 1972, to kill off Van der Valk and, unlike Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes, refused to resurrect him - though he did, reluctantly, later write three pot-boilers. Two of them starred Arlette and one resurrected an old case of Piet's. The motive for this murder was simple. The Freeling family wished to educate their five children in France (he had fancied Germany, but his wife would not wear it). They moved from Holland to Strasbourg, and from Strasbourg to a small mining village in the Vosges nearby.

Twenty-four novels followed Van der Valk's demise in A Long Silence, most of them cases for Henri Castang, a senior policeman working in an unspecified town - Dijon crossed with Toulouse, perhaps - in central France. Loyal Freelingites believe these are the best British books about France (after Richard Cobb's). But Castang failed to capture the public imagination or the public purse. It would be surprising if their day did not come. Freeling described himself and his family as European, Rhinelanders even. His literary style is, however, exaggeratedly English, as befits a fanatical admirer of Kipling and Anthony Powell. It is intimate and conversational, and gives a strong sense of presence from both author and characters. He wrote an engaging literary-critical philosophy of crime writing, titled Criminal Convictions, and believed character cannot be drawn without making use of calamity, which is, of course, close to crime. Freeling was the winner of the Gold Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association in 1964; the Grand Prix de Roman Policier (1964); and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1966.

He married Cornelia Termes in 1954; they had four sons and a daughter. Nicolas Freeling, 76, Dies; Set Novels in Modern Europe - The New York Times The New York Times Books |Nicolas Freeling, 76, Dies; Set Novels in Modern Europe Search Continue reading the main story Nicolas Freeling, the British detective novelist whose popular Inspector Van der Valk and later Detective Henri Castang unmasked crime in modern Europe, died on Sunday in France, the London press reported. He was 76 and lived in Schirmeck, a village in Alsace. Mr. Freeling produced nearly 40 books, mostly mysteries but some of an introspective and critical nature. His Dutch hero, Van der Valk, was on the job in 13 of his crime novels, and his French protagonist, Castang, in 16 more. Mr. Freeling's fiction, ever mindful of the social realities in which its events took place, also explored the psychological roots of both criminals and their pursuers. He was an unabashed admirer of the prolific Belgian-born French detective novelist Georges Simenon, who returned the regard. Mr.

Freeling's idiosyncratic Amsterdam police inspector, Piet Van der Valk, seemed a worthy successor to Simenon's Commissaire Jules Maigret. Van der Valk's sleuthing was the basis for British television series, which ran from 1972 to 1992. To the dismay of his fans, Mr. Freeling allowed Van der Valk to be killed by Dutch street thugs in 1973 and let his wife, Arlette, carry on the suspense in Strasbourg (''The Widow,'' Pantheon, 1979). Henri Castang then got his turn as a perpetually rueful French detective, beginning in ''A Dressing of Diamond,'' published by Harper in New York in 1974. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Freeling did not turn to writing until his 30's after a career as a chef. His first published book was ''Love In Amsterdam,'' which has an alternate title, ''Death in Amsterdam,'' published by Gollancz in London in 1961, and in New York by Harper a year later.

His second novel ''Because of the Cats'' (Gollancz, 1962; Harper, 1963) was rereleased by Arcadia Books in 2000 and remains in print. It was made into a 1973 movie that had censorship problems when it was released, in part because of the graphic rape scene that opens it, and now has a cult following in Europe. Another novel became the movie ''Amsterdam Affair'' in 1968. Nicolas Freeling was born in London but lived most of his life on the Continent. His socially conscious writing prompted some critics to compare him to John le Carré, whose yarns of espionage similarly enhanced that genre. He served in the Royal Air Force just after World War II. He had been a voracious reader as a boy and attended Dublin University but dropped out and headed for southern France, where he discovered his knack for cooking. He made a living for a dozen years as a sous chef in seaside hotels. He was the chef at an Amsterdam hotel when the police, investigating an underworld ring, took him in for questioning and inadvertently inspired his writing career.

A foreigner in police custody, he was fascinated by the interrogation and began to weave it into what became the first story about Van der Valk, the worldly wise detective intrigued by the why's as much as by the whodunits. Van der Valk met his own fate because his creator was tired of writing about him and longed for a change in scenery and character. Mr. Freeling's readers took umbrage at Van der Valk's death, but the author resisted suggestions that he contrive a resurrection. He also wrote ''Criminal Convictions: Errant Passages on Perpetrators of Literary License'' (Godine, 1994), a collection of essays on the crime element in the work of his own favorite novelists, and ''The Kitchen: A Delicious Account of the Author's Years as a Grand Hotel Cook'' (Harper, 1970), currently in print as ''The Kitchen Book: Cook Book'' (Godine, 1991).

Other works still in print in the United States include ''Not as Far as Velma'' (Mysterious, 1989), ''Sand Castles'' (Mysterious, 1990), ''The Seacoast of Bohemia'' (Warner, 1996), ''A Dwarf Kingdom'' (House of Stratus, 2001) and ''The Village Book'' (Arcadia, 2002). Another novel, ''The Janeites,'' about devotees of Jane Austen, was published in Britain last year. In 1954 Mr. Freeling married Cornelia Termes. According to The Guardian of London, she survives, as do their four sons and one daughter. Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol A4-Amsterdam Airport Hotel Reviews | Expedia by A verified traveler from Nairn, Scotland Great quality hotel Posted Aug 16, 2011 Stayed here for one night. Arrived late at night after a flight from Edinburgh. The Hotel was a bit tricky to find as it is right off the motorway and is only accessible from the northbound carriageway.

The room was fab, very spacious even with a third bed set up for our son. Can't comment on the food/restaurant as we did not have time to use them. It's a shame we only had such a short stay here. 4 out of 5 by A verified traveler from St. Maarten Conveniently close to Schiphol Airport Posted Jun 23, 2011 Conveniently close to Schiphol Airport 3 out of 5 by A verified traveler from Blind Bay, B.C. Convenient for connecting flights. Posted Mar 12, 2011 We arrived from Vancouver mid afternoon and caught the hotel shuttle outside the airport entrance. The shuttle got us promptly to the hotel. The gentleman at the desk was very friendly. Our room was adequate but I felt it could have been cleaner. Our balcony outside the patio window had a dirty ashtray with a cup on the floor also full of cig butts. This was supposed to be a non smoking room but obviously the cleaning crew did not check the deck. The carpet in the room appeared to need a shampoo soon. The morning buffet breakfast was fabulous. The next a.m.

the shuttle took us to the airport to catch our connecting flight to Capetown, South Africa. 5 out of 5 by A verified traveler from Oldham 5 star treatment at 3 star prices Posted Jan 11, 2011 This was our 4th stay at Schipol A4 and the standard remains high. However, I think the hotel made a big mistake in placing two 'close friendly' families on our corridor which resulted in the children constantly leaving their rooms (door bang) then knocking on their friends door, followed by entry and another door bang. This went on for at least two hours without any parental supervision. I realise this is not the hotels responsibility but having the families on different corridors would have instantly halved the door banging routine. 4 out of 5 by A verified traveler from St. Maarten Good to go when you leave early from Schiphol Airport Posted Nov 3, 2010 Easy, comfortable hotel close to airport 4 out of 5 by A verified traveler from White Lake, Ontario Not bad minus the location Posted Sep 17, 2010 We were under the impression that the hotel was fairly close to Amsterdam.

It was not, It was a shuttle bus ride to the airport and then a train ride to Amsterdam from the airport. It wasn't too bad but we were not expecting to have to do that. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, across the street there is a KFC and a Burger King and also a restaurant that is not open very late. That is all there is around. The location of the hotel is not good however the cleanliness, staff, breakfast and accomodations were all great. Not sure if we would stay here again due to location. If it was around more things we would definately stay again. Hotel very clean and the included buffett breakfast is very good with lots to choose from.

3 out of 5 by A verified traveler from oregon usa Not Impressed" looked great but service was awful Posted Jun 9, 2010 there is no help for luggage in or out of the hotel after getting to the room we found that there was not even a way to make coffee everything was way overly priced...we were forced to rent two room after seeing the rooms there was more than enough room in just one room for us to relax for 11 hours in......in reality we didnt not even use the second room 3 out of 5 Recommended by Hahe from Montreal, Canada The best choice for us. Also they have an amazing buffet breakfast and good food at reasonable price Posted May 1, 2010 The telephone problem was obviously temporary ( but had already lasted for days). Many hotels would immediately have taken steps to make free telephones available at their reception desk. They did not , and the reception staff showed a lack of concern and understanding for their clients' needs, showing a lack of proper training. In fact, we had to ask first, and were then 'allowed' to use one of the spare phones. However, in all other respects the service level at the hotel is very high.

We have always been very satisfied. Will also go back. 1 out of 5 by A verified traveler from Seoul What a terrible 4 stars hotel. Posted Feb 24, 2010 I would like to go back next time in order to only see whether there are any improvements in the hotel. 5 out of 5 by A verified traveler from Los Angeles, Ca. Nice place to stay Posted Feb 17, 2010 The hotel is very clean. Nice people and very helpful. They have a large lounge/bar and a large restaurant. Very comfortable room with a large bathroom. There isn't much around the hotel. A small place across the parking lot on the highway with two fast food places, one a KFC, and a clothing store and a gas station. Van Der Valk - Series 1-5 - Complete [DVD] [1972]: Amazon.co.uk: Barry Foster, Susan Travers, Michael Latimer, Joanna Dunham, Nigel Stock: DVD & Blu-ray By Kenneth M. Pizzi on 22 Jan.

2008 Format: DVD Verified Purchase Van der Valk is truly an absorbing and entertaining detective drama that featured the late talented actor Barry Foster as Commissaris Piet Van Der Valk of the Amsterdam Police. With an catchy opening theme called "Eye Level," the series was not only shot on location around quaint Amsterdam and its canals, but was filled with a number of engaging stories involving murder, kidnapping, blackmail, illicit drugs, and prostitution with many elite, high-profile suspects. Those expecting a crime drama on the order of "Mannix" or the popular UK series "The Professionals" are likely to be disappointed. Van der Valk is a detective drama similar to the popular series "Columbo" here in the US or "Bergerac" in the UK. But unlike Peter Falk's exasperating detective from the LAPD, Foster's character has a certain appeal: a cynical and hardened yet sophisticated cop with a taste for fine wines, classical music, and quoting Baudelaire.

Supporting cast is also excellent with Susan Travers as Van der Valk's wife, Arlette, and Michael Latimer as Inspector Johnny Kroon, Van der Valk's rookie detective-in-training clearly recalling the chemistry between Karl Malden and Michael Douglas in the popular "Streets of San Francisco" soon to be released here in the US on DVD. Unfortunately, this set is not remastered very well; some episodes seem fare better than others when viewed on anything larger than a 40 in plasma or LCD television. By Marcia TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on 9 Jan. 2012 Format: DVD Set against the cosmopolitan backdrop of Amsterdam, with its reputation for drugs and prostitution, this series explores the world of Police officer Van der Valk. He is a blond curly haired detective who searches out common criminals involved in subversive activity. This classic British TV series is presented here in the complete box set. It is an interesting set with some excellent episodes. Series one began with six episodes in 1972. This series has mostly studio based scenes with most of the drama taking place in the office of Van der Valk.

But the series works well mainly because of the outstanding acting by Barry Foster who played Van der Valk. Van der Valk is a sophisticated character. He likes fine wine and classical music and he is tough on criminals. He doesn't hesitate to speak his mind. This is a very strong character and the role is played perfectly by Barry Foster. Series three is much better with plenty of outside location scenes, There is improved editing and production. The scripts are better too with some excellent stories. The series ended and it was revived again in 1977. Once again the episodes have strong stories, production and acting. There is a new actress playing the wife of Van der Valk. These episodes from the 1970s are all excellent and offer not only good production but plenty of scenes of life in 70s Amsterdam. There are two other things the series was famous for. Firstly it features the DAF car, an automatic car that was very popular in Europe and thanks to this series became popular in the UK. Secondly the shows theme music was recorded by the Simon Park Orchestra and released as a single that topped the UK pop charts in 1973. The series was revived again for a third time in 1991.

Read more › Comment 21 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback... Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again By Eric Mckevitt on 24 May 2009 Format: DVD Verified Purchase I really enjoyed this series when first shown on ITV and as it has never been repeated, unlike other shows, rewatching them again on this excellent box set is like seeing a news series of 32 episodes! I loved every moment of this fine show. As the series progresses the production, stories, acting and filming get better. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities so seeing shots of it from the 70's onwards is fantatsic. I highly recommend this series to anyone who remembers this series and who likes good detective shows set in a picturesque city. Why this has not been repeated on TV I will never know. 1 Comment 38 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback... Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again By Victor HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER on 15 Mar.

2010 Format: DVD Verified Purchase Moody, grouchy detective, often clashing with his superiors, working off inspired hunches, drinks too much, episodes that rely on characters rather than mystery and finally a great catchy theme tune. No, not Morse but Van der Valk, the Dutch detective wrestling with the criminal underbelly of Amsterdam. First screened in the early `70s, and sporadically reappearing over the years until the early `90s, this was great TV and has stood the test of time. The cases always seem to tackle difficult social issues, and often reflect very nicely the tension between the Dutch acceptance of drugs and prostitution and the need to keep the streets safe. The scripts are always intelligent, nicely paced and thoughtful, which is an important part of great drama. The other half is the actors, and in Barry Foster the character of Piet Van der Valk is brought nicely to life. A range of guest actors (including the ever reliable Geoffrey Bayldon in a particularly memorable episode) flesh out the other roles. Finally, the streets of Amsterdam are used to great effect, and really add to the mood.

Along with a great sound track (the theme was the ever popular `Eye Level' by the Simon Park Orchestra) this had all the ingredients for classic telly, and that is exactly what we got. All 32 episodes are collected here on eleven discs. There are five normal size DVD cases collected together into one sturdy cardboard outer. There are limited liner notes, consisting purely of episode synopses, and no extras. All episodes are colour, mono sound and the original 4.3 aspect ratio. For the price it isn't bad I guess, but the picture quality is pretty poor at times, and for this I am docking a couple of stars. Read more › 4 Comments 45 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback... Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again "Van der Valk" Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb trailers and videos full cast and crew trivia official sites memorable quotes Overview 13 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Theme became a Top 40 hit from Melbourne, Australia 4 June 2003 TV drama based around the daily "Goings On" at an Amsterdam police station .

The show's musical theme was called "Eye Level" . Written by Dutch composer Jack Trombey and performed by England's Simon Park Orchestra, the track went on to become a major Top 40 hit in the early 1970s and eventually sold in excess of a million copies world wide. Was the above review useful to you? 7 out of 7 people found the following review useful: The Dutch Columbo from United States 20 January 2007 I first saw it when I visited Britain in 1977. I was intrigued by the anomaly (to me) of a British TV show about a Dutch police detective. I enjoyed it and continued to watch it every time I visited Britain, which was often as I had gotten a job requiring it. Some of the actors spoke with British accents while others spoke with Dutch accents, but that was no big deal. After all, aren't we the country that gave the world Robin Hood with an American accent? The only thing that really bothered me was that it apparently never got on American TV, at least not that I knew. It would be great if BBC America were to broadcast the reruns. Barry Foster was a great actor, perfectly cast.

I suppose it didn't make it "across the pond" because he used brains instead of brawn and guns, and we already had Lt. Columbo. Was the above review useful to you? 7 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Great TV series set in Amsterdam from United States 17 July 2000 I saw this British TV series a few times on PBS and I loved it. I love the theme song as well. It features Barry Foster as a detective in Amsterdam (it's all in English) investigating various crimes. One I remember is some Yugoslavs were ripped off by a tractor salesman who dies, and they are the suspects. Was the above review useful to you? 1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Highly-Recommended Amsterdam intrigue... from United Kingdom 30 November 2015 In between the TV showings of the original series of "Special Branch" (1969) and "The Sweeney" (1975), Thames Television delivered a classic piece of Detective fiction in the form of "Van Der Valk" - Commissaris Piet (Simon) Van Der Valk of the Dutch CID based in Amsterdam.

It was a very good updated take on the character from a series of best- selling novels by Author Nicolas Freeling and a superlative characterisation by actor Barry Foster in the lead role. Furthermore, it was the marrying of Foster's performance with the intelligent and gritty realism of the scripts and location that made this a must-see of the time (the entire five series - 32 Episodes in total - was made over a twenty-year period). As a youngster, I was more familiar with the third series (1977) which was made by Euston Films for Thames, but watching the episodes of the original series from 1972 and 1973 (2nd series) was most enjoyable too as it not only gave us an insight into how the character of Van Der Valk was originally conceived for television, but also allowed us to experience the production process of the time - a mix of VT (studio) and film (location) work that assisted in the unfolding of the drama. The city of Amsterdam is beautifully captured in each and every overcast shot of period detail - trams, bikes, canals, cars and bars all add to the realistic take on a glorious setting.

There was a gap of almost 14 years before the decision was finalised to commence work on the fourth series (screened 1991) and by this time the episodes were produced for a longer format: a two-hour time slot (the trend of the time). However, it was wonderful to see the older Barry Foster continue his memorable characterisation all those years on, and I felt that the series had lost none of that gritty style and intelligence that gave it an endearing quality almost two decades previously. In these longer early '90's episodes there is obviously an emphasis on the changing face of culture and environment, and a new face is added to the Van Der Valk family - namely an adopted daughter called Ruth who has a young child. The Van Der Valk's eldest son, Wim is also in the employ of the Amsterdam Police as an Inspector, and he plays a considerable part in some of the case-cracking proceedings of these later episodes, and reference is also given to his brother in the final series (1992) although he never makes an appearance. Overall, 'Van Der Valk' is a highly-recommended viewing experience especially for those entertained by the crime fiction genre. Was the above review useful to you?

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Barry Foster classic from London 24 June 2014 I think I must have seen a few episodes as reruns in the late seventies,always after News at Ten. After a recent visit to Amsterdam I remembered the original and wanted to see it again so bought the box set. Barry Foster is very good and was clearly a fine actor. He has some really good scenes that exploits to the full Filmed in Amsterdam in colour you get to see the sights. The plots are complex and some scenes may seem a little laboured by modern standards but the show really holds up well against Wallender, Montalbano etc. If there is a production company out there looking for the next European detective they couldn't do much better than resurrect one of the originals, Commissaris Piet van der Valk and pay tribute to the excellent Barry Foster who made the part. Was the above review useful to you? 4 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Great theme from New York, New York, USA 9 October 2003 Has the distinction (IMHO) of being the TV show with the best ever theme music.

Track it down on the net if you haven't heard it. Oh, and it was a great detective show also. Was the above review useful to you? Van der Valk Hotel Volendam Katwoude - The Netherlands on Hotels.nl Van der Valk Hotel Volendam Katwoude Show large photos The hotel rooms come with a flatscreen television, a safe, a desk, a sitting area, a telephone, a wake-up call, a radio, air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, a fridge, and a bathroom with a bath and/or shower. In addition, Van der Valk Hotel Volendam has many facilities plus a whole range of possibilities for organising meetings. There is a free indoor pool in the hotel, as well as a whole legion of opportunities for exercise and relaxation. In the extensive Health Club guests can make use of the cardio- and power training equipment. The centre also has a sauna/relaxation area, a Turkish steam bath and a solarium. These facilities can be used at an additional charge. The hotel's seven function rooms are perfect for any type of gathering for up to 300 persons.

The various possible room set ups can accommodate corporate parties, receptions, or anniversaries, as well as seminars and business meetings. iWhen would you like to stay at Van der Valk Hotel Volendam Katwoude? Arrival Facilities: Air conditioning, Carpet, Desk, Flatscreen television, Fridge, Hair dryer, Internet, Radio, Room service, Safe, Shower, Sitting area, Tea and coffee facilities, Telephone, Toilet, Toiletries, Wake-up call, Walk-in shower, Wardrobe, Washbasin. Room size: 28 m² Double Room Balcony - Promotion Facilities: Air conditioning, Balcony, Carpet, Desk, Flatscreen television, Fridge, Hair dryer, Internet, Radio, Room service, Safe, Shower, Sitting area, Tea and coffee facilities, Telephone, Toilet, Toiletries, Wake-up call, Walk-in shower, Wardrobe, Washbasin.

Room size: 30 m² Deluxe Room - Promotion Facilities: Air conditioning, Balcony, Bath, Carpet, Desk, Flatscreen television, Fridge, Hair dryer, Internet, Radio, Room service, Safe, Shower, Sitting area, Tea and coffee facilities, Telephone, Toilet, Toiletries, Wake-up call, Wardrobe, Washbasin. Room size: 32 m² Triple Room Deluxe - Promotion Facilities: Air conditioning, Balcony, Bath, Carpet, Desk, Flatscreen television, Fridge, Hair dryer, Internet, Radio, Room service, Safe, Shower, Sitting area, Tea and coffee facilities, Telephone, Toilet, Toiletries, Wake-up call, Wardrobe, Washbasin. Room size: 32 m² Score of 34 reviews Show all reviews Further guest reviews will be added shortly. Surroundings Volendam is mostly known for its traditional costumes and its lively harbour. The town has many nice shops along 'De Dijk' (the dyke) and in the harbour there is a ferry that leaves for the island of Marken. One can find a similar kind of clothing styles on the island, as well as authentic houses built on stilts.

Some nearby towns and cities include Edam, Purmerend, and Amsterdam which is less than 20 minutes away. Food & Drink A breakfast buffet is available daily. You can have breakfast from Monday to Friday from 06:30 until 10:30, and at weekends from 07:00 until 11:00. The à la carte restaurant Martinus is open from 12:00 until 23:00. Dinner is served between 17:00 and 23:00, and guests can enjoy lunch between 12:00 and 17:00. The hotel bar offers a nice setting for a few drinks or a cup of coffee with a slice of cake. Details FREE! Guests can make free use of wireless internet at the hotel. Car park The hotel offers free parking facilities for guests. Children/extra beds One child can stay in the parents' room. A cot can be added in the room at a charge of €9.50 per night, and an extra bed (only in a Deluxe Room) at a charge of €16 per night (on request).

Breakfast for children aged between 4 and 11 years old costs €9 per person. Internet Free wireless Internet is available in all public spaces and hotel rooms. Smoking policy The entire hotel is non-smoking. Pets Not allowed. Facilities 24-hour reception, Air conditioning, Bar, Breakfast, Computer (public), Currency exchange, Drinks Vending Machine/Items can be purchased at Reception, Dry Cleaners, Electric bike charging point, Electric car charging point, Family Rooms, Fax/Copy machine, Function room, Garden, Green Key certificate, Honeymoon Suite, Indoor swimming pool, Ironing service, Laundry, Lift, Lounge, Luggage storage, Meeting/Function Room, Outdoor Terrace, Play area for children, Restaurant, Smoking area, Snacks Vending Machine/Items can be purchased at Reception, Ticket service, Free WiFi. On request: Bike rental , Cot , Groups, Gym , Packed Lunch , Room service , Sauna , Sunbeds , Turkish steam bath . Video The same room cheaper elsewhere? Money back! Show more No hidden costs Transparent prices and clear cancellation policy.

Show more Pay at the hotel Possible at most hotels Show more Reviews All reviews are completed by our guests after their stay at the hotel Van der Valk Hotel Volendam Katwoude. 8.2 Frederique Destailleur (Families with young children) January 1, 2017 Elegant, good restaurant, excellent service – The rooms were very cold 10.0 Robin Richardson (Families with young children) July 11, 2016 + Wonderful countryside location, with all the Dutch hospitality you could wish for. Hotel staff exceptionally helpful, food and service excellent. We have stayed several times and love hiring bicycles from the hotel, swimming and sitting in the beautiful garden. – no negatives * my tip Lots to do a see all within easy cycling distance also very good bus service right outside hotel to Amsterdam, Edam, Marken and Monnickerdam.

9.6 Fabien PEIFER (Families with older children) April 17, 2016 – the sound damping of rooms, we hear al the noices of the corridor 8.8 Carlton Mack (Older couples) Great place away from the busy city + The staff was great, the location was quiet and pleasant, great area to ride bikes, bus to Amsterdam comes every few minutes. * my tip Rent a hotel bike and ride to Volendam, Edam, and Marken. It s really a short ride and the towns are beautiful. 8.0 In the country, 20 minutes from Amsterdam + Too long to explain – bad weather * my tip Dijk s cafe, tasty but a little bit expensive Take your car to the west coast, look at the flowers in may and enjoy. Amsterdam of course. 7.6 A. Rossi (Families with young children) – Room was far away from reception restaurant 10.0 + Every things .. Near Amsterdam by bus... large room... countryside... breakfast... personnal kindly etc,etc... – The weather (always rain ) – bed in 2 pieces and verry old 8.0 Quiet with large comfortable rooms.

+ Very quiet. Large comfortable room. – Isolated in country + receptionist are very kind - server in the restaurant also 8.0 Lees (Families with young children) Air con needed + Comfy beds and clean room – Air conditioning was lacking and very much needed on the days we stayed, it made for a very uncomfortable few nights. I would have expected air con throughout the hotel in a hotel of this standard 10.0 flegg (Other) what could be better + everything is wonderful, which is why I keep using van der valk hotels when in the Netherlands or belgium – why have this box, if any one uses it, let me have their address and I will sort them out for you 7.8 Janssen (Families with young children) aanrader bij mooi weer ! Kimp. (Families with older children) Nice landside Hotel + wonderful hotel, pleasant staff, good food, good price. – none for this hotel A superb hotel with friendly,helpful staff. + Good parking. Excellent food. Helpful and friendly staff especially at Reception. * my tip If one has a disability, request ground floor room. Room was spacious for three adults and the bathroom was excellent.

7.8 Nice hotel but have to call if you have children with you + Swimming pool is nice addition for rainy days – We were 3 adults , 2 children (6 and8) and a baby, booked two rooms. They charged the baby cot and additional bed for the children. At the beginning, the lady on the reception was going to charge us 10euro a night for upgrading to lux room as the standard room won't take 3 persons in. We stayed on the Ibis before this hotel and NH Gent the night after, they gave us cot and additional bed without any additional charge.The waitress spilled my drink I paid and did not bother to replace it. 8.6 Craig (Young couples) Relaxing spot in traditional Netherlands + Bus service to Amsterdam is direct from this location and it is frequent enough. It is also right next door to a cheese and clog store that is frequented by tour busses. 9.4 One of the best hotels of Amsterdam + Very Comfortableand convenient Rooms,Excellent Staff, Good Ambience. – Connectivity from Central was not so good.Especially for late night travellers.Most of the hotels offer a complementary breakfast for this price, So i feel complementary breakfast should be included.

7.6 + Clean, comfortable, good dinner and superb breakfast, kind service – Can't stay with no car 10.0 W. Dailey (Travelling alone) + amazingly easy to find,friendly,helpful staff, excellent food ,reasonably prices and served in romantic up market atmosphere – if there were any we didn't find them. Perhaps poor lighting in bathroom mirror area was our only bone to pick 9.2 Very nice hotel and good value for money, + As ever the hotel does not disappoint - a pleasant hotel with very friendly helpful staff.

– The mattress on the bed was not firm enough for my taste 7.6 – water liep niet weg in de douchebak 9.0 very goog locatain for war museums + very good hotel – the gym could be opened early before 9am should be from 7am 8.8 attornet + close to volendam the fishermen's village ,clean and the front office desk ladies are magnificent – no breakfast included in room price what makes the price in total expensive as there are others hotels nearby with breakfast included no free wifi 10.0 Gwilum Griffiths (Families with young children) excellent value for money + Everything perfect for our two night stay with our grandchildren-the pool was a blessing when the weather threatened! 8.4 A place to to relax & recharge 9.2 Jean Koren (Families with older children) Excellent hotel and good value for money. + Thids was our second vivist to the hotel and we enjoyed it very much. It is highly recommended for rural Holland and so close to Amsterdam - only a short bus ride away, but offers peace and quiet too. Lovely bar and good food. My daughter celebrated her wedding here and the food was superb. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.

– My only complaint is the price of the Internet connection. 25 Euro a day is far too expensive - the Golden Tulip only charges 5 Euro for wi-fi onnections. 9.4 Jean Koren (Families with older children) Excellent hotel - definitely recommended. + The food was superb - we enjoyed an excellent meal with family in the dining room, where the service was very courteous and friendly. The bar is very inviting and relaxing, as is the terrace.We would definitely return to this hotel and recommend it to friends. – We are used to very hard beds at home, so perhaps a softer mattress is typical of the Netherlands. As a woman, I would have liked a stronger light in the bathroom over the mirror for putting on make-up, but these are minor flaws. 9.4 Yossi Shaked (Families with older children) Internet - WiFi Should be free!!! + Breakfast – Internet - WiFi Should be free!!!

9.8 Enea Bonci (Families with young children) Da consigliare per vedere l'Olanda in macchina + Eccellente soluzione kevan knight (Young couples) I have stayed at this hotel many times before and will keep on staying + The hotel is fantastic in its location and places of interest around it and was so very clean . – Only one member of staff let the side down and that was a male member behind the bar who did not seam to enjoy his 9.2 Mark Schmidt (Families with young children) Great place to stay and visit Amsterdam and the Coast. + Nice area for families. Pool, restaurant and bar were wonderful. Great place to bring the bikes and ride along the water. Great little villages nearby for exploring. Excellent wildlife to enjoy . – Nothing really. The outdoor balconies are all linked together, so you do have some people passing by your big open windows, but not really a problem. 9.6 Michael Stoffels (Families with young children) general manager + prima hotel voor deze prijs.

9.8 Anna (Friends) I will suggest this hotel to anyone + very friendly and helpful staff; excellent breakfast; nicely furnished big rooms and bathrooms, quite a distance to Amsterdam but the bus stop is opposite the hotel and the transportation to Amsterdam is very convenient, I would certainly stay there again – a double bed in fact consists of two single beds that go separate during the night, it`s hard to use it when people like to sleep close to each other 7.0 karen storer (Other) + Swimming pool - Restaurant both food and times available. Staff very helpful. – Lack of flexibilty to check out later. There is more to a luxury room than size - bath robes would have been good. 8.8 Mrs Linda Robertson (Families with older children) Volendam is a must see and this is the place to stay! + Very clean and comfortable hotel. Staff exceptionally helpful and friendly. Great location - nearby very pretty village of Volendam. Bus stop across road from hotel, bus takes approx 30 mins to Central Station, Amsterdam. – Room located near keyed entry door which BANGED every time it closed! 7.8 Samand neil + Lovely hotel, staff really friendly.

– This hotel was advertised on the internet as having a jaccuzi it hasnt. it was one of the main points we booked for. It was also advitised as having a balcony, it was more like a window!!! 5.2 Leon Herman (Friends) Great location, good access, has potential + Nice quiet location with a good bus service nearby, also has plenty of free parking. Nice size rooms. – Breakfast service is not as good as it could be. Often have to wait for food to be brought out from the kitchen to replenish the buffet at breakfast. Reception staff are not overly responsive, will leave you standing waiting at reception while they chat. Downstairs smoking rooms have in-room coffee facilities whereas the rooms upstairs do not. The cleaning staff are not considerate to guests, they leave equipment in the passages in the way with electric cables lying across walk ways. 9.2 Alex Vidrevich (Families with older children) + Nice location. Staff very helpful. 9.2 9.2 Shannon VanderZwaag (Other) + Nice quiet area, minutes from Amsterdam, staff was very nice!!

For groups we belong to the family of older and younger catagory, we have 4 children – I did not think the indoor pool was large enough, esp. since they use the area as a fitness center for none hotel guests. However I understand the need to maintain a businesss and see the business aspect. 9.2 Steve (Travelling alone) + We arrived early but were still checked in. Very pleasant staff Clean and comfortable Room OK deal with movies + internet Separate shower from bath – No tea and coffee making facility in room. Internet only access expensive (See plus points) 9.4 + great hotel. couldn't ask for more, room was perfect. – erm....bit too far away from Amsterdam. 10.0 leonard cela (Families with older children) + great hotel in a great location, great service will stay again in this hotel, thank you. regards Mr Cela – none

Question: In which city did Van Der Valk do his detecting?
Answer: Amsterdam